News Releases

This Friday, October 3, 2014, is the final night of Cruisin’ Grand also known as “Nitro Night.” “Nitro Night” has traditionally drawn up to 20,000 spectators with some car clubs traveling from outside the County and the State. The vehicles that will be featured on Friday night are dragsters that run on nitrous oxide. Due to the special nature of this event, Grand Ave. will be closed from Escondido Blvd. to Ivy Street in both directions. The duration of the closure will 2 – 10 p.m.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area of El Norte Parkway and Valley Parkway while San Diego Gas and Electric crews work to repair a natural gas line leak. The Escondido Fire Department has unlocked the fire gates at Hidden Trails to help relieve traffic congestion for residents living there. They will be closed again once repairs are completed. No estimate is available yet as to when the work will be completed.

A no-cost College and Career Fair will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on levels 2 and 3 at Westfield North County mall, 272 East Via Rancho Parkway. Representatives from over 100 colleges and universities will be on hand to provide information to students and their parents about entrance requirements, application deadlines, and majors. Representatives also will be there for those interested in community college, trade school, certification programs, or military service.

Recognizing that a well-educated workforce is essential to Escondido’s prosperity, a wide range of organizations are sponsoring the fair: our presenting sponsor Mission Federal Credit Union, in collaboration with Cal State University San Marcos Extended Studies, City of Escondido, Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Escondido Union High School District, John Paul the Great Catholic University, Palomar College GEAR UP Partnership Program, Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District and Westfield North County.

The first 2,500 attendees will receive a complimentary tote filled with gifts. The bags can be obtained near the mall entrance by Tavern Bowl on level 2. The Dining Court Patio will transform into a “College Lounge” for the day and current college students will be on hand to share their experiences about campus life with prospective students.

For more information, please visit: collegeandcareerfair.escondido.org

Escondido, CA - Escondido Public Library presents the Filipino-American Cultural Organization (FACO) Dance Group on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in the Turrentine Room. The FACO Dance Group promotes an appreciation and celebration of Filipino culture by performing classic Filipino dances in colorful, traditional costumes.

This event is a highlight of Escondido Public Library’s partnership with KPBS to promote 2014’s One Book, One San Diego selection, Monstress, by author Lysley Tenorio, a San Diego native. Monstress describes the Filipino experience through a series of heartfelt short stories.

The FACO Dance Group shares their talent, serving as ambassadors for Filipino culture through dance. Their performance includes traditional Filipino dances such as "Bulaklakan" and “Tinikling.” The Bulaklakan is the dance of flowers, usually done during the month of May in the Philippines when flowers traditionally bloom. In the Tinikling, dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed as they dance between a pair of snapping bamboo poles.

Escondido Public Library also presents the following upcoming events in celebration of the 2014 One Book, One San Diego program:

Children around the World: the Philippines, Thursday, November 13, 2014, in the Turrentine Room from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Cora Cooks Pancit, by Dorina K Lazo Gilmore, the 2014 One Book, One San Diego children’s selection, will be the featured book, along with a program that promotes Filipino history, culture, crafts, and music. This program is targeted for children ages 6 to 10.

As a grand finale, Lysley Tenorio, author of Monstress, will make his only North County appearance at Escondido Public Library on Monday, November 17, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. in the Turrentine Room. KPBS is promoting this event and reservations will be required. More information on how to secure a reservation will be announced on KPBS.org in the near future.

Programs for Escondido Public Library’s participation in 2014 One Book, One San Diego are supported by Friends of the Escondido Public Library and KPBS. All Library programs are free and open to the public. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 South Kalmia Street in downtown Escondido. For more information on 2014 One Book, One San Diego programs at Escondido Public Library, contact Paul Crouthamel at 760-839-4814. To learn more about Escondido Public Library’s events and services, visit library.escondido.org.

Escondido, CA – Escondido Public Library will host a free Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, October 25, 2014, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. in the Library’s Pioneer Room—the City’s local history and genealogy archive. The Pioneer Room is located in the Mathes Community Center at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California 92025.

The Workshop will be taught by Ginger Kullman, a lifelong Escondido resident and genealogist. It is designed for beginning genealogy enthusiasts who want to discover their family history and learn about research resources and techniques. Registration is required as seating may be limited. Call 760-745-6633 to register.

Attendees will receive free information packets and an introduction to Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online family history resource. Escondido Public Library provides this popular genealogy database for public use in the Library and at the Pioneer Room.

This program is sponsored by the Pioneer Room Friends, a support group dedicated to preserving and promoting Escondido’s rich local history.

Library programs, events, and services are free and open to the public. For information about Escondido Public Library’s Pioneer Room, contact Librarian and Archivist Helene Idels at 760-839-4315 or visit library.escondido.org.

On Thursday, September 25, 2014 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., volunteers from the City of Escondido and Escondido Chamber of Commerce will conduct the first annual Escondido Business Walk.

The Business Walk concept was started by the City of Vista in 2011 and has grown into a successful, well-received event. In the spirit of collaboration, multiple cities in North County will hold concurrent events this year.

Focused on local business retention, the event has dozens of volunteers conducting brief visits with local businesses. The visits include a short survey of business retention-related questions about projected growth, challenges the business may be facing and ways the City can better support them. Survey data will be used to guide future economic development policies and activities, and will also be compiled into a report to be presented to City Council later in the year.

For more information about the Escondido Business Walk, contact Michelle Geller at (760) 839-4587 or mgeller@escondido.org .

Beginning on October 12, 2014 Escondido Rangers will begin offering monthly tours of the Daley Ranch House. The tours will be held the second Sunday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Rangers will lead the tours/presentations, with volunteers from the Friends of Daley Ranch assisting.

This past year, renovations were completed on the Ranch House and grounds and it is now available to rent for weddings and other private or corporate events. For information on renting the Ranch House, please contact Teresa Collins, Special Events/Economic Development Coordinator at 760-839-4507 or tcollins@escondido.org.

The Ranch House was built in 1928 out of single-board heart redwood. It was used primarily by the Daley Family for summer entertaining since its one-board thickness made it too cold for year-round living. The great room features a massive stone fireplace made of cobblestones that were brought around the Cape by clipper ship. The great room also has beautiful single wall tongue and groove redwood walls, which are original, as is the hardwood floor. The original light fixtures were made by Escondido blacksmiths, and still hang from the tall ceiling.

Dr. Kelly will share his expertise on San Diego’s first major international fair which celebrated the building of the Panama Canal and recognized San Diego as a major port of call. He is widely recognized as President of the Committee of One Hundred, dedicated to preserving Balboa Park’s historic architecture, gardens and public spaces, and is editor of Balboa Park and the 1915 Exposition. Dr. Kelly will also reveal the surprisingly significant and historic role the City of Escondido played in the planning of the 1915 Exposition. Escondido city officials were instrumental in the Expo’s local success by encouraging County road development in preparation for the Exposition. City officials also collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce, Exposition organizers, and the Grape Day Association by featuring an “Escondido Day” at the 1915 Expo to help promote Escondido’s own Grape Day Festival.

The 1915 Panama-California Exposition was pivotal and historic for the greater San Diego area as the scenic parkland mesa location became “Balboa Park” and central buildings and gardens were created. Balboa Park quickly became the center of history, architecture, gardens, arts and culture for the City of San Diego. Escondido’s role in encouraging a north-south connection proved to be timely and forward thinking.

This program is sponsored by Escondido Public Library’s Pioneer Room Friends, a support group dedicated to preserving and promoting Escondido Public Library’s local history and genealogy archive. Escondido’s Surprising Connection to Balboa Park’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition is the program highlight of the group’s annual meeting and will appeal to all local history enthusiasts.

Library programs, events, and services are free and open to the public. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California 92025. For information on this program and the Pioneer Room, contact Librarian and Archivist, Helene Idels at 760-839-4315 For more information on Escondido Public Library programs and services, visit library.escondido.org.

Lake Wohlford Road between Lake Wohlford Court and Oakvale Road remains closed due to a rockslide last week. The City of Escondido has contracted with Shaw Equipment Rentals to clean up and stabilize the slide area. This work has begun and is anticipated to be completed by September 22.